Animal Welfare in Canada

Protecting animal welfare in Canada is a shared responsibility between governments (federal, provincial and territorial), and industry (producers, transporters and staff in registered slaughter establishments).

Legislation concerning animal welfare

Federal legislation

• Health of Animals Act

  Under the authority of the Health of Animals Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces humane transportation requirements. The requirements apply to transporting all animals in Canada by all modes of transport. They are found in Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations.

• Meat Inspection Act

  The Meat Inspection Act outlines the requirements for the humane handling and slaughter of food animals in federally registered slaughter establishments. The CFIA's standards for the humane handling and slaughter of food animals in federally registered slaughter establishments are outlined in sections 61 to 80 of the Meat Inspection Regulations.

• Criminal Code of Canada

  The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits anyone from wilfully causing animals to suffer from neglect, pain or injury. The Criminal Code is enforced by police services, provincial and territorial Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and/or provincial and territorial ministries of agriculture.

Provincial and territorial legislation

Canadian provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of animals, including farm animals.

All Canadian provinces and territories have legislation concerning animal welfare.

For more information, please visit Provincial and Territorial Legislation Concerning Farm Animal Welfare.

Working Committees with Participation from the CFIA

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

The CFIA participates in developing the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) strategic initiatives on animal welfare and international trade.

Federal/Provincial Animal Welfare Working Group

This working group comprises key organizations, including the CFIA, and is responsible for delivering animal care programs at the federal, provincial and territorial levels.

Ontario Humane Transportation Working Group

This working group identifies and addresses issues related to the humane transportation of farmed animals. It includes participants from the following organizations:

• the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs
• the CFIA
• the Ontario Farm Animal Council
• stakeholder and industry associations

Industry and stakeholder organizations with animal welfare mandates

A number of Canadian organizations have animal welfare mandates and assume responsibility for various aspects of animal welfare. The roles of the principal groups are described below.

• The National Farm Animal Care Council
  • addresses national farm animal care issues
  • coordinates the development of national farm animal care standards
  • builds processes that facilitate the application of farm animal care standards

  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the CFIA are represented on the Council and participate in the development of the national Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals.

• The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies works with governments, industry, animal rights groups and the public to improve conditions for all animals including livestock, wildlife, research animals and pets.
• The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  • recognizes animal welfare as one of its top three priorities
  • publishes a series of animal welfare position statements
• The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is a national organization responsible for overseeing the care of animals used in research, teaching and testing. CFIA laboratories follow the CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing.
• Farm Animal Care Councils
  • promote responsible humane animal care within their agriculture and food industries;
  • are active in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia;
  • provide peer counselling to fellow producers;
  • report serious cases of neglect or abuse to the appropriate authorities, such as the provincial governments, Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the CFIA; and
  • are involved in supporting and initiating farm animal welfare research.

Research and educational institutions with animal welfare mandates

Canada has three centres for the study of animal welfare:

• University of British Columbia
• University of Guelph
• University of Prince Edward Island

These centres do the following:

• carry out research and education related to animal welfare
• train graduate students in conducting animal welfare research
• provide advice and intellectual leadership on current issues to animal users and the public

Other animal welfare groups

• Canadian Farm Animal Care Trust
• Alberta Livestock Protection Network
• The Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada